CYMS kicked off its campaign at Wade Park on Sunday morning - the first of a double header, with Cavaliers playing ORC in the later game - and it was the opening partnership between Murphy and veteran Mick Delaney that set the tone.

The pair went at almost 10 runs an over for the opening 12 overs, Murphy blasting 73 off 50 balls (strike rate of 146) while Delaney hit 59 off 42 (s/r 140) to take the game away from the students very early on.

Both were eventually dismissed but Dave Neil's cameo of 25 came at a strike rate of almost 180, and that ensured CYMS rocketed to 3-179 from 20 overs.

The students were valiant, but never in the fight despite batting out 20 overs, to go down by 65 runs. Murphy admits his innings was all about keeping it simple.

"I went out there and just tried to do my thing," he said.

And he's confident it's the sort of win that can propel CYMS into a strong position for the rest of the tournament.

"We've definitely got the sort of team that can go a long way," he added.

It's a sentiment shared by Neil, who said the team's efforts in the field - highlighted by a stunning catch by veteran spinner Al Dhatt at fine leg - were as well-rounded as he's seen from a CYMS side.

Johnty French (2-32) and Aquinder Dhillion (2-23) picked up a couple of wickets each in the win, while Dhatt's (1-20) four overs and skipper Hugh Le Lievre's (1-18) four-over spell both proved miserly.

"It was a belter of a wicket and with 180 on the board we were confident defending that," Neil said.

"We bowled quite well, quite tidily. They needed that quick start to have a hope but we prevented that. We got Mac (Webster) out early and they never threatened."

Neil said he was thrilled for his "incredibly powerful" teammate, Murphy.

"They teed off from the get go. Murphy hits them cleanly and everywhere. He's all power. Delaney probably had a bit more craft, ramping and that kind of thing ... but neither of them bothered with running," he said.

Dave Hunter top scored for Kinross with 39 off 45.

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